Citi’s latest whitepaper, “Securities Services Evolution,” outlines a significant transformation in the global post-trade industry, driven by digital assets, accelerated settlements, and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). The report, released on 2 September 2025, highlights that 10% of global market turnover is expected to be tokenised by 2030, with 76% of respondents actively working on T1 initiatives by 2025.
The whitepaper, which surveyed 537 industry leaders, reveals that bank-issued stablecoins are anticipated to play a crucial role in supporting collateral efficiency and fund tokenisation. Additionally, the cumulative workload of T1 initiatives is at a historical high, with a focus on optimising internal processes for North American settlements.
Automation is identified as essential for T1 readiness in the UK and Europe, with improvements in operational processes and technology upgrades being key enablers. The report also notes that 86% of firms are piloting GenAI, particularly for client onboarding and post-trade operations.
Asia Pacific is leading in digital asset adoption, driven by retail cryptocurrency uptake and regulatory efforts. Chris Cox, Head of Investor Services at Citi, stated, “The industry is at the cusp of significant change as market participants intensify their focus on T1, accelerate the adoption of digital assets, and implement GenAI across their operations.”
Amit Agarwal, Head of Custody at Citi, added that custodians are expected to be the largest agents of securities tokenisation by 2030. As digital and traditional assets converge, Citi is developing innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for digital asset custody services.
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